Never a Dull Moment

Vaughn's eight flight training students flank longtime Continental 
Airlines pilot Emerson Allen in the Redbird Flight Simulations 
Skyport hangar area. 

Jan. 8, 8 p.m.: The talk around the breakfast table on Sunday was how world-renowned flight instructors John and Martha King flew into Skyport to welcome our students and sign their certificates of completion. These courses are part of the integrated simulation flight training. Nice.

Even in great flying weather areas such as San Marcos sometimes the weather tanks. One of the great aspects of simulation-centric flight training is that when the weather turns bad, as it did on Sunday, you still can fly the simulators. The few raindrops were no match for the eight motivated Vaughn flight students who decided to head back to Skyport on their day off. Why? To fly the simulators and accept flight instructor Roy Good's offer to discuss how best to read METAR and TAF weather reports.

The students say everyone is pulling in the same direction to earn their ratings. The flight instructors, Redbird staff and the students are all committed to this goal. At the end of the day, there is nothing as satisfying as hearing the stories and seeing the smiles of our talented students who are working hard to achieve their goals. As one student said, "this is serious and fun at the same time!"

You know there is an abundance of aviation passion in the air when students choose to spend their downtime learning more. This drive for success is going to pay off big time.

—Ken Kaplan, managing director

Vaughn Aviation Outreach Initiative

Great Weather for Flying

Saturday, Jan. 7, 4:30 p.m.: It has been four days since I arrived in San Marcos, Texas. Despite being jet-lagged and tired from travel, on the first night we received a warm welcome from Vaughn College and San Marcos Municipal Airport staff. We were welcomed with a nice steak dinner, which I enjoyed greatly. Every day since then, we have risen bright and early, at 8 a.m. sharp, and have worked hard on the online course, practiced flying on the simulators and studied preflight and safety procedures. Luckily, I completed the online coursework and was able to fly on Thursday (Jan 5). I was also given the chance to fly again on Friday (Jan. 6). I spend most of my time studying, reviewing safety and preflight procedures and flying on the simulator. I am very excited to continue learning and flying throughout my time here, even moreso because the airplanes are brand new and the simulators and other equipment are top of the line. The weather here is wonderful, especially for flying. I get to practice everything I learn in class in a manner that is hands on, putting all that I have done in school into perspective. Thankfully, the staff at San Marcos Municipal Airport is well trained, supportive and very helpful. I miss home; however, I am thrilled to have been given this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is very challenging, but I am certain the hard work and studying will be worthwhile in the long run.

--Jaen Villalvir

Jaen Villalvir with his Cessna on Friday.

Another Exciting Day

With help from a Redbird instructor, Vaughn's Ryan Barren does some prep work before his initial flight. Below, Dr. Sharon DeVivo, left, in the cockpit after a thrilling ride; Franklin Pillcorema readies his plane.

Friday, Jan. 6, 11:30 a.m.: On Thursday, three Vaughn students were able to get in the air with flight instructors for their first in-flight lessons. The morning began with Chief Flight Instructor Roger Sharp in the hangar with a 2011 Cessna 172 demonstrating a pre-flight check that every pilot conducts before taking to the skies. From checking the gas, oil and tires to running a finger across each leading edge, students learned the importance of knowing your aircraft before flying. It was then time for students to practice in the simulators and continue to study procedures.  


After lunch, it was time for  Franklin Pillorcema, Jaen Villalvir and Ryan Barren to get in the air. After conducting pre-flight checks, they headed out with an instructor to spend an hour in flight. A small group of us looked on excitedly, snapping lots of photos as they taxied away and took off. We were ready when they returned to gauge how it went; each student seemed to exit the cockpit with a smile the size of Texas.

While in the midst of watching Barren get ready to taxi away, Sharp walked over to me with a pair of headphones and said, "Let's go." I instantly said "Yes!" and got nervous.  The whole experience was an absolute thrill as we soared over the central Texas countryside. While my skills on the ground left a lot to be desired (you use your feet not your hands to turn the aircraft on the ground--not easy) I did get to turn the airplane several times in the air and felt more comfortable at each opportunity. When I got back to the Skyport facility, I told the students I completely understood their desire to do this--the feeling of exhilaration is incredible!  Thank you Chief Sharp for a taste of what our students are experiencing.

—Sharon DeVivo, Senior Vice President 

In Love with the Facility

Friday, Jan. 6, 10 a.m.:  As I arrived in San Marcos, Texas on Jan. 3, Roger Sharp was very kind to take Vaughn college students out to dinner. On Wednesday,  we got down to business,  at 8 a.m. We began by discussing the program stages that we will complete before we move on. The people here at Skyport are friendly, funny and serious about getting the work done. They have taken care of us, as if we were their children, with lots of love and respect and have fed us a great lunch and dinner every day since our arrival. I feel I am in a nice and relaxed environment in which I can get work done. The facility is amazing. I love it—my favorite part is the pilot lounge. I love being in there on the nice leather recliners, cable, WiFi flat-screen HDTV. I cannot complain. Today,  I will be going up to perform the first stage of my simulator training in the actual Skyhawk 172 aircraft. 

—Erika Barcenes

Images from San Marcos, First Day of Training

First Flights

Francisco Pillcorema, above, and Jaen Villalvir , below, in the cockpits of brand-new Cessna 172s just before taking off on Thursday (Jan. 5). Redbird Flight Simulations fleet of Cessnas is turned over every year, or after about 1,000 hours of flight time.

About San Marcos

About San Marcos, Texas

The Red Rock Express, above left, and San Antonio Missions, right, play in the San Marcos area.

Fun Facts

Eight Vaughn College students are taking part in an innovative flight training program in San Marcos, Texas. Here are a few unique things you might want to know about the Austin suburb.

Population:    34,700

Location: 40 miles southwest of the capital of Austin

Available Flying Days: 300-plus

Shopping: There is a Tanger Outlet center (much like the one on Long Island) in the heart of  town.

History: San Marcos is the home of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Museum. LBJ was the nation's 36th president, serving from 1963 to 1968.

Culture: San Marcos is also home to Dick's Classic Garage, one of the nation's leading vintage auto rental facilities and museums.  

Sports: The San Marcos area is home to two minor-league baseball teams, the Round Rock Express, AAA affiliate of the Texas Rangers, and the San Antonio Missions, AA affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

Day One at Redbird Skyport

Day One in San Marcos

The hangar area at Skyport in San Marcos, Texas.

Wednesday, Jan. 4, 8 p.m.: Eight Vaughn students are excited to begin flight training at Redbird's Skyport here in central Texas. Vaughn has entered into a partnership with Redbird to provide students with their private, commercial and certified flight instructor certificates as well as the instrument, certified flight instructor-instrument and multi-engine ratings. Students will train here for the next three weeks. Redbird, a leading simulator manufacturer, has taken its innovative and simulator-centric approach to flight training.

As an administrator at Vaughn for the past 16 years, it is incredibly fulfilling to see students pursuing their dreams of flight at such a beautiful location. This brand-new facility opened in November, and students will be training in 2011 Cessna 172s that will be replaced each year (after about 1,000 hours of flight), providing students with the optimal training tools. As students walked through the front doors this morning they were ushered into a conference room and given the training materials they will study extensively over the next three weeks. Roger Sharp, the chief flight instructor, discussed the importance of each student asking questions and practicing with all of the technology and simulation tools available. After lunch, students were paired up with their flight instructors. Students and instructors got right to work in the simulators.

This roughly 30,000-square-foot facility is spectacular. A training center sits on one side and the flight-based operation occupies the other, with a 12,000-square-foot hangar in the center. The weather in San Marcos has been clear and in the mid-60s, and several students will be ready to go up for their first flights Thursday (Jan. 5). In a quick chat in the hotel lobby this evening, the students talked about how thrilled they were with the first day, felt very comfortable and were excited to get in the air. Looking forward to another great day Thursday.

—Sharon DeVivo, Senior Vice President